Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Maldives has revealed State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Marianne Hagen will make a two-day official visit to the Maldives from March 2 to 4. She will be accompanied by senior officials from the Norwegian foreign ministry and a business delegation.
During her visit, State Secretary Hagen will call on Vice President Faisal Naseem. She will also meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid, Minister of Environment Dr. Hussain Rasheed Hassan and Minister of Economic Development Fayyaz Ismail to discuss areas of mutual interest.
On 4 March, the state secretary will visit Thilafushi, together with senior government representatives from Maldives. The visit to the island will pay attention to waste management and the fight against marine litter. The foreign ministry said the visit will provide an opportunity for the two countries to discuss ways to build partnerships in areas of common interest, such as sustainable management of the oceans, economic growth and marine pollution.
They will also discuss the continuation of strong cooperation on climate issues in multilateral fora. Norway's support for democratic development in Maldives and shared emphasis on a rules-based international order will also be on the agenda. Opportunities for bilateral trade and economic cooperation will also be discussed, according to the foreign ministry.
After concluding her visit to the Maldives, Hagen and her delegation will leave for Sri Lanka.